Sheet pulp container male die apparatus



July 25, 1944. l.. M. WILEY l I 2,354,564

SHEET PULP CONTAINER MALE DIE APPARATUS July 25, 1944. l 1 M. WILEYSHEET PULP CONTAINER MALE DIE APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 27,1942 Patented July 25, 1944 SHEET PULP coN'rAmEa MALE4 ma APPARATUS LeeM. Wiley,

to Julian T.

Marion, Ind., assignor. of one-third Lett and one-third to Reeley B.'

Wiley, both of Marion, Ind.

Application-May 21. 1942, se'iai No. 444,672

7 Claims. (Cl. 18e-45) This invention relates to a male plunger diestructure capable of changing shape under presy sure and when confinedby a complementary female die.

This application is a continuation-in-part of application Serial No.288,343,'fi1ed August .4,l 1939, now Patent No. 2,337,581, entitledSheet.

pulp container forming process and apparatus therefor, and moreparticularly Figs. 16 to 19,

. inclusive, thereof, and application Serial No.

316,742 filed February 1, 1940, entitled Sheet pulp container formingprocess and apparatus therefor, and more particularly Figs. 1 and 2thereof.

The former application refers to and discloses a solid metal male die ofnon-expanding type (Fig. 16) and a metallic, mechanically expanding maledie (Figs. 1'1 to 19). The latter application refers to and `discloses asolid rubber male die deformable under pressure."

In all punches or male dies, not ported for pressure or vacuumapplication, the present invention is applicable.

It has been long known that paper material is somewhat abrasive incharacter when Ethere is relative movement between the material and aworking member engaging same.

-In the former application, .the plunger or male parts are exposed tothe presence of moisture, size, synthetic and natural resins, et cetera,and the latter enter between the relatively movable parts' of the dieand tend to rust and clog same, respectively. Y

In the latter application, the rubber plunger or male die to have thenecessary rigidly includes hardening and/or toughening agents, such aslamp black and the like. This plunger working on clear pulp sheetsdiscolors, by sluillng rub-y ber particles and coloring materialstheresulting container, which when finished are usually ivory`= like inappearance, unless the pulp impregnating materials utilized arecontrolled to produce a substantially transparent product.

Since these containers usually are utilized in lieu o f china (cups) andglass jars (cans) et cetera, wherein clean and sanitary appearance ishighly desirable, it vis important that any discoloration be prevented.e

Lubricant between relatively movable parts of the mechanicallyexpansible plunger or male die,

also if it escapes externally will discolor the product. p

The chief object oi the present invention, therefore, is to providemeans to not only protect the die against wear, clogging et cetera butmore position.

to Fig. l,

particularly to protect the ware against .discoloration.

sistsr in providing Vplungers or male dies of the aforesaid typesc-`with very thin latex coverings of about the same .thickn ss,elasticity and consistency of toy balloons. uch sheaths are similar tothe die in the non-expanded form and are smaller than the same so thatthey require stretching for die mounting and accordingly are held uponthe die' by their own tension and will not be stripped from the die inthe normal use thereof.` This sheath preferably' is substantiallycolorless and of approximately pure latex.

Other objects and features of the invention will be set forth more fullyhereinafter.

The full nature of the invention will be understood from theaccompanying drawings and the following description and claims.

In the drawings y e Fig. 1 is a central sectional view through anapparatus for blanki-ng, preliminarily creasing and then iitting aprecreased blank into a receiving female mold with the male die thereinand under initial pressure and with a sheath interposed between the maledie and the article being formed thereby.

Fig. 2 is a similar view of the female die, the article, the male diewith the sheath thereon, the latter being shown in the fully expandedFig. 5 is a'central sectional view of theinven- I tion shown in Figs. 3and 4, the section being taken along the line 5 lof Fig. 3 and in thedirection of the arrow. i p

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a sheath unapplied to the expansiblemale die.

Reference will first be had to Figs. 1 and 2, the so-called solid rubberdie disclosure and initially In this iigure there is provided two spacedsupports l0 and IlA between which there is passed intermittently a atpulp sheet A. Also positioned between these two supports and slidablysupported by one support, herein i0, as at I2 and'yleldingly constrainedas at |31 is a stripper plate il. Adjacent thereto is a cutting die i555, rigid with one support and associated therewith The chief feature ofthe present invention cona top plan view of one embodiment and injuxtaposition thereto-is another and c0- operating cutting" die I6 rigidwith support ||.l

ating creasing structure including the cooperating portions and I8 whichare movable towards and away from each other inthe aforesaid relativemovement of the spaced supports previously set forth. Accordingly, whenthe blank is formed by shearing, the same is creased and then a supportI9, carrying the stem neck 20 and a male die head arrangement 2| ofsolid rubber type, advances through the apertures Ila, |6a and |'|a to.draw the blank through the tubular portion 22 of the creasing structure.

Continued travel of the die seats the precreased, partially formed blankdesignated in Fig. 1 by the letter B in a receiver die 23, of femaletype. This die is supported upon a .base 24 which is movable and the dieis provided with a valve controlled vent arrangement 25 and 25 to permitthe escape of air trapped in the die in the initial seating of thesemi-formed article and the male t punch therein. Continued movement ofthe member I9, since the rubber die is deformable under greaterpressure, will cause the rubber die to conform to the interior 23a ofthe female die, thus forcing the article B `toconform thereto and at thesame time to compress the preformed utea in the article side wall andalso to redistribute the stock, as illustrated more particularly in Fig.2.

Herein the female die 23 includes a throat or open mouth 21 and the maleportion includes an annular extension or sleeve 28 which adjacent thedie head forms a chamber 29. When the throat portion 21 andthe skirtportion 28 are suitably associated together, as show n in Fig. 2, andthe member I9 is sufficiently advanced, the two telescope andaccordingly confine thesocalled solid plunger and cause the latter tofill the chamber 29 as illustrated in Fig. 2 and fully occupy theenclosed arrangement except for that portion occupied by the article B.

As previously pointed out, there are certain inherent disadvantagesresulting from the use of the construction as thus briefly described.

Referring to Fig. 6 it will bel observed that fthere is thereinillustrated a sheath substantially cylindrical in form in its bodyportion, the same being indicated by -the numeral 3 0. One end isvclosed as at 3|. The other end is open and defined by a reenforcedportion- 32. This sheath is of substantially the same thickness andelasticity as toy balloon stock. It is, however, colorless, orsubstantially so. It is of substantially pure latex.

This sheath is applied to the solid rubber male die 2| and by reason ofits elasticity it 'will stretch and conform to the same substantiallythroughout its entire area of contact with the die. These sheaths mayhave an initial conformation corresponding to the die outline et cetera.However, this is not necessary because of the inherent elasticity of`the sheath material. When applied to the rubber die` the sheath willclosely conform to the surface of the die throughout all the sheathcovered portions of that surface and this is by reason of the fact ofthe inherent elasticity before mentioned and the frictional contactbetween the sheath and the die.

It is observed that in Figs. 1 and 2 the die has from. Herein thenumeral indicates a main.

in such an instance in view of the fact that the largest diameter of thedie is intermediate the ends thereof, care must be exercized to excludeall air trapped between the sheath and the die end and this is effectedas follows:

The sheath maybe inverted so that its end portion 3| may be pressedagainst the reentrant portion and then it can be reinverted after allthe air has been removed between the reentrant portionof the die and thesheath. This will cause the sheath to substantially conform to the dieend. Then the rest of the sheath can be worked back toward the neckportion supporting the die proper and when the die is completelycovered, the remainder of the sheath will engage upon the rear face ofthe die head portion, this rear face being indicated by 2lb.

After proper mounting, the apparatus previously described, ismanipulated in proper timed relation, as set forth in the applicationbefore mentioned,-to form a blank, precrease it, seat it in the receivermold, then collapse the flutings in the side walls and then redistributethe stock, by. extension of the solid rubber die. During this operation,the sheath is interposed between the article and the die andaccordingly, the die is not subjected to wear and neither will'the dieSlough the rubber particles therefrom incident to such wear nor will anyof the coloring matter or the other material in the die whichmightemanate therefrom be applied to the article, vso that the articleis clean and devoid of extraneous matter.

The elasticity is such, as previously set forth, that the sheath adheresto the male die so that when the male die is retracted from the receivermold the sheath moves therewith, being in effect unitized therewith.Naturally when the movement is such that the malev die 'is no longerexpanding, `.there is no suction between the articlesupport, 5|indicates a sleeve slidable thereon and within a collar portion 52, thetwo being aligned by means of a pin 53 carried by the portion 50 andseated in the aperture 54 in the collar 52. This pin between the mainsupport portion 50 and the collar 52 rides in a slot 55 in the sleeve5|.

a reentrant free end 2 la. In mounting the sheath 75 Secured to thesleeve 5| is a collar 55 which is suitably associated with mechanism formechanically expanding the die, as hereinafter briefly pointed out.

It will be observed that the support for the die structurewhich isassociated with the portion 50 is caused to move at appropriate times sothat the member 50 is moved longitudinally into a receiver mold whereinthere is positioned an article ofthe character previously described. l

f portion l Ycam face 16 on the sleeve 5I.

The end of themember 601s enlarged and extended laterally at the freeend 'as at 80 and this is suitably tapered at its outer portion 6I. The'collar portion 62, before mentioned is integrall with the portion 62 andthe latter is secured to the portion v6|) by the means indicated at 63,,64, 65, and the nut 66, there being three of these constructions.

It will'be observed that this'connection is `of shouldered'type so thatthere is provided between the upper edge 61a and the lower edge 62a orfaces, a channel of predetermined height. The

60 is recessed as at 61. Portion-62 is recessed as at 66. A movableportion of the die 69' which has an exterior face 1n includes a portion1| seatable in the recess 61 and the portion 12 seatable in the recess68. Springs 13 and 1,4 respectiVeIy,- urge this member 69 intothe'retracted position. The member 69 has the inner inclined face 15andthis is engageable by the wedge portion .16, an extension of thesleeve .5L When the wedge moves down-see Fig 4-the member 66 movesoutwardly from th fullline position shown v in Fig. 4, to the dottedline position thereof.

There also is provided somewhat similar members 19 having the exposedface 86 somewhat similar to the 4exposed face 10. Herein the recess 61is of annular character and the `member 19 includes a depending portion8l. It is also seated in such recess. Themember 1Q has theinner\inclined face 66 also engageable by` the The member 19 includes a82 therethrough and through rthis bore extends the portion 64,previously set forth. The portion 64 in turn is recessed as at 84 andsprings 85 are interposed between one wall ofthe bore 82 and the member6d being seated in the recesses 84 thereof. Hence, the member 19 isnormally constrained to retracted position. When the' sleeve 5l iscaused to advance toward the free end @il the wedge cam face 1B engagesthe severalfaces 15 and 86 of` the several expansible members and Imoves them outwardly to the dotted line positions to form a complete`periphery of expanded type.

The sheath shown in Fig. 6 is mounted on this solid metal mechanicallyexpansible male die and when the latter is in the collapsed or retractedposition and when so mounted, the reeneforced end 32 rests on theshoulder face Q3 of the portionl t2 as illustrated. This shoulder edgemay be slightly rounded as indicated at @I so that 'it will not have asharp cutting edge and, therefore, will not cut the sheath. Aspreviously described, such a sheath, by reason of its inherentelasticity and because it is initially slightly smaller than the maledie when collapsed, will' stretch and be frictionally engaged withl themale die when collapsed and yet will expand as required, when the die isenlarged laterally. In operation the friction lock between the sheathand die is such that any suction action between the article and the maledie following the dieing operation will not .be

longitudinal bore s upon the die.

From the foregoing, thereto it will be apparent that in both embodimentsof the invention illustrated, the article is protected from the maledie` and they male die in turn is protected from the action lof thearticle so that replacement of the sheaths'as they wear, et cetera, willinsure substantially permanency of the dies mentioned.

While the invention has been described in association -with laterallyexpansible dies, it'is apparent Athat a sheath of this character may beutilized to prevent wear of the male die when the same is of solid metaland non-*expansible type, at least one of which is illustrated in one ofthe aforesaid copending applications.

While the invention has been'illustrated and described in great detailin the drawings and Lforegoing description, the same is to be consideredas illustrative and not restrictive in character.

The several modifications described herein as well as others whichwillreadily suggest themselves to persons skilled inthis art, all arecon- 'sidered to be within the broad scope of the invention, referencebeing had to theappended claims.

The inventionvclaimed is:

1. -I n a die structure comprising a substantially closed end female dieadapted to receive a cupf' scopically, mounted upon the body portion andsumcient to 5mn the sheath from the die. Any

\ and furthermore, any 1ubricatinn included in this [male die cannotaccidentally escape and discolor. the article. Furthermore, the .sheathitself takes -die received free end peripherally enveloping the same andthe female die received free end of the male die, the internalperipheral dimensions of said sheath normally' being slightly smallerthan the external peripheral dimensions of the body portion when notexpanded, said sheath having sucient inherent elasticity forself-retention upon the male die body portion and for expandingtherewith.

2. In a die structure comprising a, substantially closed end female dieadapted to receive a cuplike, pressure moldable product, and a male diesupported atene end `by a male die support and with the product betweenthe dies, said male die comprising a body portion ysupported at one endby said support and the end opposite the supported end being free andof. pressure molding type and laterally expansible incident to theapplication of axial pressure thereto after insertion into the femaledie, and a rubber-'like sheath. telescopically mounted upon the bodyportion and peripherally enveloping the same and the female of the maledie, the internal peripheral dimensions of said sheath normally beingslightly smaller than the external peripheral dimensions of the bodyportion when not expanded,

herent elasticity for self-retention upon the male die body portion andfor expanding therewith, the male die support at its junction with themale die having a cross-sectional area appreciabiy less than that of themale die at .that junction, whereby tlemale die at that Junction forms ashoulder, saidy shia-th having its open any abrasive wear which thearticles might have one end said sheath having a. suilicient irl-- endpositioned upon said shoulder and dened by a slightly reenforced edge.

3. A die structure asy deiined by claim 1 wherein said expansible maledie comprises relatively i movable parts and is of mechanicallyexpansible type, said sheath preventing clogging of the male die parts.

4. A die structure as dened by claim 1 wherein said expansible male dieis of so-called solid rubber type, said sheath closely conforming to thesurface thereof for the protection of the prod-I uct in al1 stages ofdie expansion, said sheath being of a rubber-like material other thanthat ofthe so-called solid rubber type and which will not contaminatethe interior surface of the pressure moldable product.

5. In a die structure comprising a substantially closed end female dieadapted tolreceive a ,cuplike, pressure moldable product, and a male diesupported at one end by a male die support and with the product betweenthe dies, said male die comprising a body portion supported at one endby said support and the endopposite the supported end being free and ofpressure molding type and laterally expansible incident to theapplication of axial pressure thereto after insertion into the femaledie, and a rubber-like sheath telescopically mounted vupon the bodyportion and peripherally envelopingthe same and the female die receivedfree end of the male die, the internal peripheral dimensions of saidsheath normally being slightly -smaller than the external peripheraldimensions of the body portion Awhen not expanded, said sheath having asuftlcient inherent elasticity for self-retention upon the male die bodyportion and for expanding therewith, the male die support at itsjunction with the male die having a cross-sectional area appreciablyless than that of the male die at that junction, whereby the male die atthat junction forms a shoulder, said sheath having its open endpositioned upon said shoulder and defined `by a slightly reenforcededge, said expansible male die comprising relatively movable parts andbeing of mechanically expansible type, said sheath preventing cloggingofthe male die parts.

6. In a. die structure comprising a substantially closed end female dieadapted to receive a cup- 6 by said support and the end opposite thesup- :ported end being free and of pressure molding type and laterallyexpansible incident to the application of axialpressure thereto afterinsertion into the female die, and a rubber-'like sheath ltelescopically mounted upon the body portion and peripherally envelopingthe same and the female die received free end of the male die, theinternal peripheral dimensions of said sheath normally being slightlysmaller than the external l peripheral dimensions of the body portionwhen not expanded, said sheath having a sutilcient inherent elasticityfor self-retention upon the male die body portion and vfor expandingtherewith, the male die support at its junction with the male die havinga cross-sectcldnal area appreciably less than that of the male die atthat. v

Junction, whereby the male die at that junction forms a shoulder, saidsheath having its open end positioned upon said shoulder and deilned bya slightly reenforced edge, said expansible die being of so-called solidrubber type. said sheath closely conforming to the surface thereof forthe protection of the product in al1 stages oi' die expansion, saidsheath being of a-rubber-like material other than that of the so-calledsolid rubber type and which will not contaminate the interior surface ofthe pressure moldable product.

7. In a. die structure the combination of a male die, a supporttherefor, and a rubber-like sheath,

the male die comprising a body portion supported at one end by thesupport and the end opposite the supported end being free and ofpressure molding type and laterally expansible for molding purposes, thesheath beingnormally slightly smaller in cross-sectional area than thatof the support providing a shoulder, the sheath terminating at theshoulder and bearing thereon.l

' LEE M.

